TAKEN. LAUREN DONOVAN, KCCI 8 IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. ERIC: THERE ARE NEW CONCERNS ABOUT THE NATION’S FOOD SUPPLY AFTER ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S LARGEST PORK PROCESSING FACILITIES SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF AN OUTBREAK AT THE PLANT ACROSS THE BORDER. THE SMITHFIELD FOOD PLANT IN SOUTH DAKOTA PROCESS IS ABOUT 5% OF THE PORK CONSUMED IN THE U.S. FORMER IOWA GOVERNOR TOM VILSACK TELLS CNN THE VIRUS HAS CREATED A SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION IN FOOD SUPPLY. HE SAYS IT’S BECAUSE BUSINESSES ARE CLOSED AND PEOPLE ARE PANIC BUYING. HOWEVER, HE SAYS THERE IS NOT A SUPPLY SHORTAGE. >> THERE IS PLENTY OF FOOD BEING PRODUCED. IT IS A QUESTION OF MAKING SURE WE MEET THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND AT THE SAME POINT. RIGHT NOW THERE IS A MISALIGNMENT. AND NORMALLY YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ADJUST. NORMALLY, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT EXCESS SUPPLY AND BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE IT AROUND THE COUNTRY. WELL, YOU GOT ISSUES WITH TRANSPORTATION, YOU GOT ISSUES WITH THE PEOPLE HAVING THE VIRUS, WHO ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF THIS. ERIC: VILSACK SAYS THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT WAYS FOR THE USDA TO ACT QUICKLY TO GET RESOURCES REALIGNED. HE SAYS THE USDA WAS PREPARED TO HANDLE LOCAL EMERGENCIES, BUT IT WAS NOT PREPARED

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Plant closures bring concerns about nation’s food supply

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Updated: 12:45 PM CDT Apr 14, 2020

There are new concerns about the nation's food supply after one of the country's largest pork processing facilities shut down because of a COVID-19 outbreak at the plant. The Smithfield Food plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota processes about 5% of the pork consumed in the U.S.Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack tells CNN the virus has created a significant disruption in food supply. He said it's because businesses are closed, and people are panic buying. However, he says there is not a supply shortage.“There is plenty of food being produced. It is a question of making sure we meet the supply and demand at the same point. Right now, there is a misalignment, and normally you would be able to adjust. Normally, be able to take that excess supply and be able to distribute it around the country. Well, you got issues with transportation, you got issues with the people having the virus, who are critically important to all of this,” said Vilsack.Vilsack said the government needs to figure out ways for the USDA to act quickly to get resources realigned. He said the USDA was prepared to handle local emergencies, but it was not prepared for a wide-scale pandemic.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

There are new concerns about the nation's food supply after one of the country's largest pork processing facilities shut down because of a COVID-19 outbreak at the plant.

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The Smithfield Food plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota processes about 5% of the pork consumed in the U.S.

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack tells CNN the virus has created a significant disruption in food supply. He said it's because businesses are closed, and people are panic buying. However, he says there is not a supply shortage.

“There is plenty of food being produced. It is a question of making sure we meet the supply and demand at the same point. Right now, there is a misalignment, and normally you would be able to adjust. Normally, be able to take that excess supply and be able to distribute it around the country. Well, you got issues with transportation, you got issues with the people having the virus, who are critically important to all of this,” said Vilsack.

Vilsack said the government needs to figure out ways for the USDA to act quickly to get resources realigned.

He said the USDA was prepared to handle local emergencies, but it was not prepared for a wide-scale pandemic.